Make Italian Subs at home just like your favorite sandwich shop. These sandwiches feature Italian-style cured meats, sliced cheese, crisp vegetables and a tangy red wine vinaigrette that brings everything together.
A great sandwich starts with good bread, flavorful meats, fresh produce and the right dressing. When you assemble all those elements, an Italian sub becomes a satisfying meal that’s easy to customize and quick to prepare.
This Italian Sub is piled with several Italian-style deli meats, layered with cheese, and topped with shredded lettuce, tomato, red onion and pepperoncini. The finishing touch is a bright red wine vinaigrette that adds acidity and depth to each bite.
Why you’ll love this recipe: it’s super easy, takes only minutes to assemble, and you can swap meats, cheeses and toppings to suit your taste.
What You’ll Need
Be sure to scroll to the recipe card below for the full printable ingredients and instructions.
Red Wine Vinaigrette
- Olive oil
- Red wine vinegar
- Red onion
- Parmesan cheese
- Garlic
- Dried oregano
- Salt & pepper
For the subs
- Sub buns – see notes below for bread suggestions
- Salami
- Pepperoni
- Ham
- Cheese – provolone or mozzarella work well
Toppings
- Iceberg lettuce
- Tomato
- Red onion
- Pepperoncini peppers
How To Make Italian Subs
- Make the vinaigrette. Combine olive oil, red wine vinegar, grated red onion, grated Parmesan, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt and pepper in a jar with a tight lid. Shake vigorously until combined and season to taste.
- Assemble the subs. Split the buns and spread about 2 teaspoons of vinaigrette on each side. Layer salami, pepperoni, ham and sliced cheese, then top with shredded iceberg, tomato slices, thinly sliced red onion and pepperoncini.
- Wrap and serve. For a deli-style presentation, wrap each sandwich in parchment and slice in half before serving.
Recipe Tips & Variations
- If you prefer a hot sandwich, assemble the subs without the fresh vegetables, place them on a baking sheet and heat in a 350°F oven for about 10 minutes to melt the cheese. Add the fresh veggies after heating.
- Use any Italian-style cured meats you like. Salami, prosciutto, capicola, mortadella, pepperoni and soppressata are all excellent choices.
- Make vinaigrette swaps if desired: white wine vinegar is a close substitute, and apple cider vinegar gives a slightly sweeter flavor.
- Prepare subs ahead of time but add shredded lettuce and other fresh toppings just before serving to prevent sogginess.
- For crisp crunch, use iceberg lettuce rather than softer leafy greens.
What Kind Of Bread To Use
Classic Italian bread from the bakery aisle works well for these subs. If the inside of the roll is very doughy, scoop a bit out to make room for the fillings. Where available, Italian hero rolls (often about 12 inches long) give an authentic deli feel, but any sturdy sub roll or baguette will do.
How To Serve
These subs are ideal for a quick lunch or an easy dinner. Pair them with a simple tossed salad, pasta salad or a tomato and mozzarella salad. Classic deli sides like potato salad, macaroni salad, or chips are great accompaniments.
What Else Can I Put On A Sub
Keep the Italian theme with additions like:
- Roasted red peppers
- Black olives
- Pickles
- Banana peppers
More Easy Lunch Ideas
- Turkey Club Sandwich
- Chickpea Chicken Salad
- BBQ Chicken Wrap
- Avocado Chicken Salad
Italian Subs
Ingredients
Red Wine Vinaigrette
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon grated red onion
- 1 Tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
For Sandwiches
- 6 Italian sub buns
- 12 slices salami
- 12 slices pepperoni
- 12 slices deli ham
- 12 slices provolone or mozzarella
Toppings
- Iceberg lettuce
- Sliced tomato
- Thinly sliced red onion
- Pepperoncini peppers
Instructions
Make Vinaigrette
- Add all vinaigrette ingredients to a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Shake for 30–60 seconds until combined. Taste and adjust seasoning.
To Assemble The Subs
- Open the buns and place them cut-side up.
- Spread about 2 teaspoons of vinaigrette on each side of the buns.
- Layer salami, pepperoni, ham and cheese.
- Top with shredded lettuce, tomato slices, thinly sliced onion and pepperoncini.
- Close sandwiches, wrap in parchment and slice in half if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is an approximation.
Additional Info
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